Money-saving tips rile airline workers
By Bloomberg News | August 17, 2006
DALLAS -- Northwest Airlines Corp. is apologizing to workers offended by company suggestions on how to save money, including buying jewelry at pawnshops, getting auto parts at junkyards, and taking shorter showers.
The list, entitled ``101 Ways to Save Money," was part of a booklet for employees being laid off as bankrupt Northwest reorganizes. The Minnesota-based carrier gave out 60 booklets before it began getting complaints, a spokesman said.
``This is disgraceful that somebody at Northwest Airlines would send this out to a long-term employee facing having no job, telling them to do certain things that are very degrading," said Robert Roach Jr., an officer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Northwest, the fifth-largest US airline, is reducing pay and benefits and shedding jobs as it trims labor spending by $1.4 billion annually to exit bankruptcy as soon as 2007. The job cuts include 1,000 Machinists as well as members of other unions.
``We sincerely apologize to our employees for any offense this list caused them," said Crystal Knotek, senior vice president.
The 165-page booklet was created for Northwest by NEAS, an employee assistance company in Waukesha, Wis. A spokeswoman for NEAS referred calls to the airline.
Other suggestions on the money-saving idea list included giving homemade cards and gifts, asking doctors for prescription-drug samples, borrowing a dress for ``a big night out," and giving children hand-me-down toys and clothes. ``Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash," the list said.
``A lot of these people are hoping to come back to work someday at Northwest Airlines," Roach said. ``When they see this, it's very demoralizing. This is a reflection of management ability at Northwest."
``First they took our money. Then they took our contract," the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said on its website. ``Now the geniuses that run Northwest Airlines are insulting not only our intelligence, but our dignity as well."
Northwest has asked a judge to block flight attendants from striking over $195 million in annual wage and benefit cuts. The union has said it will begin random work stoppages as soon as Aug. 25
By Bloomberg News | August 17, 2006
DALLAS -- Northwest Airlines Corp. is apologizing to workers offended by company suggestions on how to save money, including buying jewelry at pawnshops, getting auto parts at junkyards, and taking shorter showers.
The list, entitled ``101 Ways to Save Money," was part of a booklet for employees being laid off as bankrupt Northwest reorganizes. The Minnesota-based carrier gave out 60 booklets before it began getting complaints, a spokesman said.
``This is disgraceful that somebody at Northwest Airlines would send this out to a long-term employee facing having no job, telling them to do certain things that are very degrading," said Robert Roach Jr., an officer of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Northwest, the fifth-largest US airline, is reducing pay and benefits and shedding jobs as it trims labor spending by $1.4 billion annually to exit bankruptcy as soon as 2007. The job cuts include 1,000 Machinists as well as members of other unions.
``We sincerely apologize to our employees for any offense this list caused them," said Crystal Knotek, senior vice president.
The 165-page booklet was created for Northwest by NEAS, an employee assistance company in Waukesha, Wis. A spokeswoman for NEAS referred calls to the airline.
Other suggestions on the money-saving idea list included giving homemade cards and gifts, asking doctors for prescription-drug samples, borrowing a dress for ``a big night out," and giving children hand-me-down toys and clothes. ``Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash," the list said.
``A lot of these people are hoping to come back to work someday at Northwest Airlines," Roach said. ``When they see this, it's very demoralizing. This is a reflection of management ability at Northwest."
``First they took our money. Then they took our contract," the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said on its website. ``Now the geniuses that run Northwest Airlines are insulting not only our intelligence, but our dignity as well."
Northwest has asked a judge to block flight attendants from striking over $195 million in annual wage and benefit cuts. The union has said it will begin random work stoppages as soon as Aug. 25
